The 5 Best Waterproof Phone Cases of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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From water sports to poolside lounging, these cases can keep your phone safe and sound.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Sean Stovall

Whether you’re going on a backpacking trip or a relaxing beach vacation, chances are you’ll come into contact with water. While most smartphones today have some sort of water resistance, you can’t risk it by going without a waterproof case.

And take it from me: earlier this summer, I took a weekend trip to visit a friend in the Spanish beach town of Conil de la Frontera. What I thought would make for some great in-water ocean footage recorded on my caseless iPhone 14 quickly turned into a water-damaged phone and an empty camera roll.

Our Travel + Leisure team put 10 waterproof phone cases to the test, giving feedback on effectiveness, ease of use, design, quality, and value. We brought them to the beach and pool, hiked with them, and even submerged them in fish tanks, and we will continue to use them over the course of six months to make sure they’re durable and long-lasting. Keep reading to find out which waterproof phone cases we found reliable and trustworthy.

In addition to being completely waterproof with an IP68 rating, the padded design gives your phone extra protection in case of accidental drops.

Your phone’s touch screen may be less responsive when put in the pouch and submerged under water.

We believe the Case-Mate Pelican Marine IP68 Waterproof Pouch is the best overall waterproof phone case out of all the ones we tested. It has a detachable lanyard to easily carry it around your neck or wrist when on the go, and it holds most phones up to 6.7 inches, along with a few credit or ID cards. We used it several times in the pool and in a heavy rainstorm, and it kept our phone completely dry.

We found that the clasps provide a very tight seal, which we tested by placing some tissue paper inside the case before submerging it in water. The result? There was not a single drop on it afterward. The built-in air pillows offer superior floating ability, making the Case-Mate Pelican Marine easy to spot if it comes out of your hand.

We took photos and made calls with the phone in the pouch without a problem. However, the touch screen was not responsive when trying to shoot a few photos underwater, which was resolved by using the timer setting. Perfect for all types of aquatic adventures, this phone case is made with rugged materials to keep your phone safe, sound, and functional.

Both the case and the carrying strap are lightweight, making them comfortable to hang around your neck during high-intensity activities like fishing, biking, or hiking.

Fingerprint unlocking features might not work when the phone is in the case.

With an all-purpose and certified-waterproof design, the Nite Ize Runoff Waterproof Phone Pouch was close to beating our top pick, the Case-Mate Pelican Marine. (We found the Nite Ize pouch material to be a bit rough compared to Case-Mate’s.) We used it in a wide range of scenarios, including swimming in Lake Washington, fishing and crabbing on a boat, commuting to work, and hiking.

During testing, we found the TRU Zip technology easy to open and close, even with wet hands or while wearing gloves. Plus, we really liked its “click” sound to indicate the case was fully sealed. When we submerged the case in freshwater and saltwater, there were no hints of moisture inside, likely thanks to its snug zipper and well-built seams. It’s worth noting that we couldn’t always unlock our phone when it was inside the case.

If you want your belongings with you at all times, this case was big enough to hold our wallet, keys, and commuter card, which surprisingly worked at payment stations without having to remove it from the pouch. The adjustable lanyard allows you to keep your hands free whenever needed, making this a great choice for any activity on your bucket list.

Its compact design makes it great for everyday use, built to withstand bounces and falls.

It doesn’t float or have any loopholes to attach a strap, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

Designed to withstand drops up to 9.8 feet and dives up to 6.6 feet, the Casetify Bounce Extreme is the most durable waterproof phone case on our list. Since it’s built to last in dry and wet conditions, we tested it for everyday use and took it to a water park. In both scenarios, this case performed extremely well as it protected our phone from scratches and did not let any water in, even when submerging it for long periods. It doesn’t float or come with a strap, so just be careful your phone doesn’t drift too far away from you.

The padded, shock-absorbing corners successfully supported our phone when it slipped out of our hands a few times. Unlike other waterproof cases requiring snaps or buckles to protect your phone, the Bounce Extreme squeezes together around it, providing a snug and secure fit. The charging port flap also did a great job blocking water, and we didn’t get any phone notifications regarding moisture in this area.

If you drop this case in the water, it will always float to the top, and you can wear the carrying strap over your head.

We wish the pouch was just a little bit longer to access side buttons on the phone.

Besides being stylish and floatable, the Case-Mate Waterproof Pouch features a carrying strap that’s long enough for crossbody wear. We tested it in the lake and pool, and even submerged it in a fish tank all the way to the bottom. As we expected, not a single drop seeped inside. “I love how the case floats and always popped right back up to the surface of the water,” Travel + Leisure testing editor Jackie Cucco shares. “I was able to text and scroll on my iPhone 14 through the plastic of the pouch, but I couldn’t access the home button at the bottom of the screen or the side buttons.” For that reason, we wish the case was a touch longer to accommodate different phones. As one of the most affordable and attractive options on this list, we think it gets the job done.

The nautical-grade carrying strap is resistant to UV rays and abrasion, making it extra durable.

It can be hard to open and close, something that’s not convenient if you constantly need your phone at the ready.

Featuring a zip seal and fabric fastener flap for double protection, the Stash7 Waterproof Phone Pouch has a carrying strap that is simply superior to those found in other waterproof phone cases. It consists of a 44-inch marine-grade cord designed to endure even the most challenging conditions. During testing, T+L senior editor Jasmine Grant noticed how practical this feature was. “I really love the bright orange lanyard that it comes with. You can wear it around your neck or across your shoulder like a crossbody bag to ensure you don’t lose it,” she says.

Grant also appreciated the sturdy carabiner so you can attach this phone case to your gear easily. The pouch can be a little difficult to open, which may be inconvenient for those who need frequent access to their phones. Regarding waterproofing, our senior editor ran a few experiments to prove that no water went in. “After packing the case with tissue, running the case under cold water, and then submerging it into a bowl of water, I’m happy to report that the tissue remained bone-dry in the end,” she notes.

If you’re not fully convinced by the waterproof phone cases above, these models are still worth a try. However, we recommend double-checking features like screen sensitivity, price, and durability.Catalyst Total Protection Case: We really liked how this phone case kept our phone dry with no signs of moisture, even after submerging it several times in a hot tub. But it didn’t perform well at keeping our phone functional underwater, which is not very convenient considering its price.

Joto Waterproof Phone Pouch IPX8: It did a decent job protecting our phone from the water in a cenote and a pool, but it didn’t feel very solid. If you’re on a tight budget and need to waterproof your phone for your next adventure, we think this one could still be a good choice.

Our T+L team tested 10 different waterproof phone cases over the course of two weeks, paying attention to details like external and internal materials, design, screen protection, sealing system, waterproof capabilities, and overall performance in a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. We took notes on any convenient carrying straps or lanyards and special features like drop protection or floatable designs. We dunked the cases in various bodies of water and also placed tissue paper inside the cases to identify water marks after submersion.

To give our readers the best possible information regarding the durability of these waterproof phone cases, we will continue to use each one for an additional six-month period to consider their effectiveness and quality — all of this to collect long-term intel and to make sure they remain worth your money.

Most waterproof phone cases are designed to fit a wide range of phones, but some are made for certain models only. That’s why we recommend you read the specifications carefully. Also, measure your phone’s dimensions or look it up online to make sure it’s compatible with the phone case you’re eyeing and avoid unwanted returns or exchanges.

Phone cases are shaped like your device to completely enclose it for everyday use, while phone pouches encase your phone while still leaving some room. This means you can stash other essentials, like cards, keys, or even a small wallet in a soft pouch, though it won’t be as protective against drops as most phone cases. You may have to take your phone out of the pouch to fully use it, whereas you can leave a hard phone case on your phone all the time, and it should remain fully functional. Think about the activities you’ll use your new waterproof case or pouch for, and choose the one that best suits your needs.

If you think you could easily lose your device in the pool, river, or lake, it’s essential that the case or pouch comes with a detachable lanyard, or at least has a built-in strap hook to attach one. Some sort of carrying strap is also convenient for carrying your phone as you walk around outside of the water, whether it’s a short wristlet or a longer lanyard that you can wear around your neck.

Depth rating refers to the water pressure (feet per minute) the case has been professionally tested in. Generally, phone cases with an IP68 rating can withstand 3.3-feet submersions for up to 30 minutes. If that’s not enough, look for cases that can withstand more than that, like cases with an IPX-8 rating.

While they’re designed to keep your phone dry in water, most waterproof phone cases also offer enough screen responsiveness to text or take pictures underwater. In our experience, however, not all of them will do the trick when submerged in water, even if the manufacturer states the cases do so. According to our research, this can also depend on the phone model and its overall responsiveness.

IP stands for “Ingress Protection” and it’s the level of protection a product has against dust, dirt, moisture, and other foreign particles. Waterproof phone cases usually have IP65, IP66, and IP67 ratings, meaning they’ll provide full protection against dust and other particles, and submersion to a certain depth.

Not all of them. Some phone cases have air or foam pillows that’ll easily float once in the water, while others don’t. It’s essential to look for specific information regarding the floatability of your phone case. Once you get it, test it in a safe environment before taking it for a swim at a lake or beach. Some of the options in our list above are floatable.

For this story, writer Joe Niehaus went through extensive T+L testing data and brand information to find the best waterproof phone cases for any adventure. He’s spent plenty of time in bodies of water across the world, whether it’s beaches in Spain or pools in Florida. He’s also no stranger to phone damage from water (see: Spain this past summer), so he now knows what to look for to keep tech protected.

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